Sustainable Food Summit Begins

Seventh Sustainable Food Summit Launched The 7th Sustainable Food Summit, organized by the Sustainability Academy and TÜGİS in cooperation with support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has begun. The summit was opened by Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli. At the Sustainable Food Summit, leading industry figures from around the world and Turkey will address food security issues. TÜGİS Secretary General Kaan Sidar made remarks. Sidar stated: "According to FAO reports, of the 4 billion tonnes of food produced annually worldwide, only 2.7 billion tonnes reach consumption, while 1.3 billion tonnes are thrown away. The monetary value of this is approximately 1 trillion dollars." ISTANBUL (AA) – At the Sustainable Food Summit, TÜGİS Secretary General Kaan Sidar made remarks and emphasized the importance of food security. Sidar noted that the event would address ways and methods for transformation towards more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agricultural and food systems.

"Our Food System is Responsible for 30 Percent of Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions"

Sidar stated: "The report published by the United Nations, with its warning that climate change is widespread, rapid and intense, has removed all doubts that it is now more than an international issue – it is a transnational problem. As pressure on natural resources and biodiversity increases globally, the weight placed on food systems being economically, socially and environmentally sustainable and productive as the primary influencing factor of climate change is increasingly gaining importance. Our food system is responsible for 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and this is both a cause and consequence of global warming. This is extremely important in demonstrating how much what we eat and drink and our dietary habits affect climate change. According to United Nations data, the world population, which was 7.9 billion in 2021, will reach 9.7 billion in 2064. Besides this, demand for diversified food will increase due to the growing middle class. The current system is far from meeting these conditions. Our water resources are being rapidly depleted, we are polluting nature. Unexpected shocks, which include pandemics, wars and migrations caused by wars. Our food system is fragile in the face of these."

1.3 Billion Tonnes of Food Thrown Away

Sidar continued: "In our world where agricultural land is shrinking and the human population is constantly increasing, food waste and loss have become more important than ever. The general term for produced food becoming waste without fulfilling its function is 'food waste.' According to FAO reports, of the 4 billion tonnes of food produced annually worldwide, only 2.7 billion tonnes reach consumption, while 1.3 billion tonnes are thrown away. The monetary value of this is approximately 1 trillion dollars. Again according to FAO figures, Turkey ranks third among the top 10 countries in world food waste rankings with 93 kilograms per capita annually. The wasteful use of water resources is also a separate problem. There is no food without water. An urgent action plan needs to be implemented on this matter as well." Sustainability Academy President Murat Sungur also made remarks. Sungur stated: "Using human intellect, science and technology, we need to take correct steps, make correct principled decisions, truly fill in the substance of all these points and think long-term in order to present sustainable food systems to future generations. Otherwise, humanity will render its own future unsustainable with its own hands."